Ditching-machine.



C. HORIX.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1911. 1,064,733, Patented June 17, 1913.

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C. HORIX.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED snm'. 7, 1911.

1,064,733. Patented June 17, 1913.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL HORIX, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

DITCHING-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL I-IoRIX, a citizen of the United States, resident of Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specication, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates t-o ditching-machines, and particularly to that class of ditching-machines shown, described and claimed in Patent No. 523,790, issued July 31, 1894, to James B. Hill.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which will be economical in its construction and efficient in its operation.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of my invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawings Figure 1 is a side-elevation, partially in vertical longitudinal section, of a ditching-wheel and the supporting frame therefor, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken upon the plane indicated by lines II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken upon the plane indicated by line III--III in Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of one of the scoops, detached.

The general structure of the ditching-machine embodying my invention is similar to that shown, described and claimed in the above-named patent.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated by the drawing, A represents the supporting frame for an open-center ditching wheel, which is capable, as in the abovenamed patented device, of being` raised and lowered, as will be readily understood. Upon this frame are mounted, in the usual manner, three pairs of anti-friction journal rollers a a, a, the supports for the lower two pairs of rollers consisting of angle-bars a a2 suitably secured to the upper main Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 7, 1911.

Patented June 17,1913.

Serial No. 648,146.

frame-member A by means of gusset-plates and depending therefrom.

The ditching-wheel proper, B, consists of three main elements z-an annular ring-portion B; an internal gear-member B2; and the scoops B3. The ring-portion B consists of two parallel annular rings b b, each of which is built up of a plurality of abutting segmental plates b. Secured between the inner portion of these rings is the internal gear-member B2, which consists of a plurality of segmental abutting gear-portions bz which are secured between the plates b by means of suitable bolts or rivets. This gear-member, therefore, forms a separator for the rings b of the ring-portion B of the wheel. The segments b2 are set inwardly from the inner edges of rings a distance sufficient to permit such rings to laterally house or shroud the teeth of the gear-member, as shown in Figs. 2 and Each of the scoops B3 is provided with the lateral or side portions 3 b3, the outer or bottom portion b4, and the digging-lip b5. Projecting inwardly from the bottom or end-portion b4, preferably integral therewith and substantially perpendicular to the end or bottom portion b4, is a centrally located lug b5. The back of the scoop is formed with an opening B4 which is covered by a plate B5 Slidably mounted on the main body of the scoop and securable by means of bolts and nuts B6 and flanges 57 formed in the sides of the scoop, as shown in Figs. l and 5. By providing a plurality of holes in the plate B5 for the bolts, such plates may be adjusted to assume various positions and form an opening B7 of various heights on the back of the scoop. In the adjustable plate B5 is cut an incision bs. These scoops are mounted on the ring-portion, the lug 66 being placed in the annular space between the outer portion of the rings b and secured therebetween by means of bolts b9, the incision bs being provided to permit of the passage of the ring-portion of the wheel through the rear end of the scoops, as will be readily understood.

The inner cylindrical surfaces blo blo of the rings b b form the bearing of the ditching-wheel and rest upon the rollers a a, the latter being each provided with one flange externally located for retaining them in position, as will be readily understood, and as clearly shown in Fig. 3,

A driving pinion Cy is mounted upon the frame, engages the internal gear-member B2, and is hence adapted to rotate the ditchl ing-Wheel. j Immediately adjacent to the gear-member I B2 is the usual liXed curved retaining plateD which extends from a point near that at which the scoops begin to rise, to a point near the top of the structure and immediately above the transverse conveyer E. The width of this plate D is substantially equal to that of the scoops; and the sides of the latter extend into close proximity thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. A suitable aperture d, Fig. 2, is made in the plate D, for permitting the pinion C to pass therethrough, in order to engage the gear-member B2.

Covering' the lower central internal portion is a protecting apro-n or guard F, of segmental form, as shown in Fig. l. This apro-n is curved to form, in conjunction with side-plates f f, a housing for the lower rollers a a, which has the bars a a. riveted thereto. Said bars, therefore, form the support for said housing, and hence for the apron F. The rollers are mounted in bearings riveted to said side-plates. This apron is of U-shaped cross-section, having the cross-member thereof on top, as shown in Fig. 3.

In operation, the ditching-wheel rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, and in so doing the earth is scooped up by the scoops B3 and carried upwardly thereby, discharge from the scoops being prevented by the plate D, until the end of the latter is reached. The scoops contents on reaching this point are, in the usual manner, discharged upon the transverse conveyer E, from whence they are laterally conveyed and thus removed from the apparatus. The apron F intercepts any material which may drop from the conveyer E or from the scoops prior to their discharge of their contents, upon the lower inner portion or" the ditching-wheel, and hence protects the internal gear-member B2 by preventing the earth from becoming deposited between its teeth, with the consequent deleterious results.

By constructing the scoops and securing them in the manner above described, it will be seen that they are readily removable, and may be with facility replaced by scoops of different width or shape, for the purpose of digging ditches of different Width or other dimension, without disturbing or dismounting any portion of the mechanism other than the plate D.

In constructing my improved device, I.

prefer to arrange the segmental plates b forming the ring b, and the segmental portions ?)2 of t-he gear-member, so as to break joints, as shown in Fig. l, thereby contributing to the general strength of the structure.

For digging in some kinds of soil, the opening B7 is required, and it is necessary to change the size oi' this opening for soils of different character. For instance, it is found to be advantageous to increase the size of said opening when operating in wet and sticky soils, over tho-se suticient for dry soils. The adjustable plate B5 .is provided for this purpose.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a ditching-machine, an open-center ditching-Wheel comprising the combination of an annular ring-portion provided with two side-members; an internal gear-lnember secured between said side-members; and a plurality of outwardly projecting scoops also secured between the latter.

2. In a ditching-machine, a ditchingwheel comprising the combination of an annular member consisting of a plurality of plates forming two oppositely disposed annular rings; an internal gear-member secured between said two rings; and a plurality of outwardly projecting scoops secured between said rings.

3. In an open center ditching-wheel, the combination with an annular ring-portion comprising in its structure two side-members; of a plurality ot outwardly projecting sco-ops each having an internal inwardly projecting portion extending transversely with relation to the wheels axis seated and secured between said side-members.

et. In an open center ditching-wheel, the combination with an annular ring-portion comprising in its structure two side-niembers; of a plurality of outwardly projecting scoops each having an internal inwardly projecting portion extending transversely with relation to the wheels aXis seated and removably secured between said side-members.

Signed by me, 1911.

this 29th day of August,

CARL HORIX.

VVit-nesses:

H. F. SHUNCK, E. MCDANIEL.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

